Switch safety device.



J. SHEPPARD.

SWITCH SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLIOATION mum JUNE 1a, 1913.

1,1 19,461. Patented Dec.1,1914.

D W M Witnesses N lnventr I I WQ by M m Attorneys UNTTED STATES PATENT UFFTCE.

JOHN SHEPPARD, 0F DURHAM, NOR-TH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS D. WRIGHT AND JOHN I. ROSE AND ONE-FOURTH TO ERNEST A. SEEMAN, ALL OF DURHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

SWITCH SAFETY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914i.

Application filed June 18, 1913. Serial No. 774,454.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SHEPPARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Switch Safety Device, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in switch safety devices, one object of the invention, being the provision of means whereby the manually controlled switch operating mechanism usually connected and disposed in operable relation with the switch point where a siding is connected to the main line, has an inclosure with one or more openings, whereby the switch or brakeman may have access thereto, the closure being in a position to be readily opened when the switch point is connected to the main line, but which will when the switch point is in siding connection hold the door locked so that the brakeman or switchman cannot open the door, the door when .in open position locking the switch mechanism so that the switch cannot be moved until the door is closed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a simple mechanism of this character, which can be readily connected to and used in combination with the already installed switch operating mechanism and which will provide a means whereby the careless opening and closing of switches will be avoided, inasmuch as the mechanism provides an inclosure for the op erator with one or more door controlled openings, the doors being so connected with the switch operating mechanism, as to, when opened, hold the switch operating mechanism against operation and when closed and the switch has been operated to its abnormal position to lock the doors so that the same cannot be opened until the switch is moved to its normal position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present invention showing the inclosure in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism controlled by the door and positioned to itself control, and be controlled by the switch actuating rod. Fig. 3 is a modified form of the structure as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 coupled for the operation with two doors.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the numeral 1 designates the parallel bars which are to be taken indicative of any form of tie or other structure which properly supports the reciprocatory switch point operating rod 2 and the swinging member 3 which is manually controlled for reciprocating the rod 2 and thus controlling the switch point (not shown). Connected to and movable with the rod 2 is an upstanding arm or abutment 4, the purpose of which will presently appear. Spanning the two bars or plate 1 at a point adjacent to the manually controlled mechanism of the rod 2 is a plate 5, to which is pivoted for swinging movement by means of the pivot 6, a cam 7, said cam being provided with the recessed edge 8, which as will presently appear, provides means to permit of the proper reciprocation of the rod 2. By this construction it will be seen that the cam 7 acts as a lock or releasing means for the arm or abutment 4, the same when in the position as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, permitting the reciprocation of the rod 2 to the left into the recess 8 of the cam 7.

In order to provide a means whereby the cam 7 will lock the rod 2 against movement, the structure that will presently be de scribed, is employed.

An inclosure 9 may be made in the form of a cage with or without a top and is disposed to inclose the operating mechanism 3 of the switch controlling rod 2 and the cam 7 and arm 4, it being made accessible through the medium of the door 10 hinged at 11. A link 12 is pivotally connected at 13 to the cam 7 and has its outer end pivotally connected to the door 10. It will thus be seen that when the door is opened to the dotted line position, that the cam 7 will be swung so that one edge of the recess 8 will be moved out of alinement with the arm 4: or to assume the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 1, and that therefore the peripheral edge of the cam will be placed to abut the arm 4 so that should the brakeman enter the inclosure 9 and not close the door 10, it will be impossible to operate the rod 2; But, however, should the door 10 be closed so that the cam will have its recess 8 placed in alinement with the arm 4, the rod Qmay be reciprocated and the arm 4: moved within the peripheral edge of the cam 7 and parallel to one edge of the recess 8. In this position the arm l will act as a locking means to prevent the rotation of the cam 7 and consequently the opening of the door 10. The brakeman will then of necessity have to remain within the inclosure 9 and will have to again operate the switch point operating rod 2 to its normal position, that is the arm at moved outwardly beyond the periphery of the cam 7. The door may then be opened to assume the dotted line position and permit the exit of the brakeman. By this construction it will be seen that the cam 7 acts as a means for locking the rod 2 against operation when the door is-opened and is itself locked against movement to permit of the opening of the door when the rod 2 has been manually operated to throw the switch point and when the arm 4 is within the periphery of the cam 7.

In the form of device as shown in Fig. 3, a link 12 is connected to the cam 7 and extends in an opposite direction to the link 12 so that two doors may be used to an inclosure 9 and operate upon opposite sides thereof.

Thus it will be seen that with all the forms here shown and described, the door when closed may be readily opened from the outside so as to permit access of the switohman thereto, but when in open position will lock the switch operating rod against movement so thatthe switchman or brakeman will of necessity have to close the door. As soon as the rod is operated to throw the switch, as for instance from the main line to the siding, the door is held closed so that the same cannot be opened until the switch point operating rod has been moved to throw the switch point to the main line from the siding. It will also be noted that with this form of safety device, the same may be readily applied to any of the switch point throwing mechanisms now in use, the present structure herein shown being indicative of any form that necessitates the manual manipulation of the switch point throwing rod.

That is claimed is:

l. The combination with a manually operable switch mechanism, of a safety protector therefor, including an inclosuresurrounding the manual control ofthe switch mechanism, a door for theinclosure, anOscillatory disk having a mutilated periphery mounted within the inclosure, a link connecting the disk to the door, and means operable by the switch mechanism to engage the mutilated portion of the disk to lock the disk and consequently the door closed when the switch mechanism has first been operated manually, the operation of the switch in the opposite direction releasing the disk so the door can be opened.

2. The combination with a manually operable switch mechanism, of a safety protector therefor, including an inclosure surrounding the manual control of the switch mechanism, a door for the inclosure, a plate mounted within the inclosure, a disk having a portion of its periphery mutilated and mounted for oscillation upon said plate within the inclosure, an upstanding arm carried by the switch mechanism for movement into and out of the path of the mutilated portion of the disk, said arm being normally out of the path of the disk to permit of the openingof the door, and a link connected to the disk and the door, whereby when the arm is in engagement with the mutilated portion of the disk, the door is locked closed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN SHEPPARD.

WVitnesses SELINA VVILLsoN, I. E. SIMPSON.

Empire of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. 

